It's Just Another Brick In The Wall

Takuma Sato has been practicing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week, in preparation for qualifying and the May 30 Indy 500. Thirty-seven drivers are currently on the entry list for the 94th running of the biggest car race in the world.

Starting positions 1-24 will be determined during tomorrow's "Pole Day" from 11am until 6pm local time (just one car on track, two warm-up laps, one timed lap, one in-lap – up to three attempts) while the remaining 33-car field will be set on Sunday's "Bump Day." Several teams had requested that the IRL reduce its Indy 500 qualifying schedule from two weekends to one as a cost-cutting measure.

Qualifying for the 2010 Indy 500 will feature a revised format. The first day of qualifying will conclude with the nine fastest drivers competing for the pole in a 90-minute "shootout."

When the second and final day of qualifying has ended, points will be awarded to all 33 drivers who earn a starting position in the Indy 500. The pole winner will collect 15 points, with the other front-row starters receiving 13 and 12 points, respectively. Drivers in the second and third rows will earn, in descending order, between 11 and six points. Positions 10-24 will receive four bonus points each, while 25-33 get three points apiece.

Front Row Bonus Money

* Pole: $175,000 ($100,000 PEAK Performance Pole Award, $75,000 Indianapolis Motor Speedway bonus)

* Second: $75,000

* Third: $50,000

Indy 500 Qualifying Q&A [source: www.indycar.com]

Q: What happens if weather washes out the Fast Nine shootout before every driver gets a chance to make at least one attempt?

A: The position in the top nine starting spots for those nine drivers will be determined by their fastest runs during the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. segment.

Q: Can any drivers other than the Fast Nine make qualifying runs from 4:30-6 p.m. on Pole Day?

A: No.

Q: Must a driver in the Fast Nine withdraw their time from the mandatory attempt during the final segment if he or she chooses to make a second qualification attempt during that segment?

A: No.

Q: How will the qualifying draw for the Fast Nine segment be determined?

A: The driver with the fastest run during the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. segment will choose their position in the qualifying line at 4:10 p.m., followed by the second-fastest and so on. The ninth-fastest driver will receive the final remaining slot in the line.

Q: Where does one of the Fast Nine drivers start if he or she can't complete a run in the completed shootout due to a crash or a mechanical problem?

A: All nine drivers who qualify for the Fast Nine shootout based on their best runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. are guaranteed a starting spot in the top nine. The shootout from 4:30-6 p.m. determines their position in the top nine. If they don't complete an attempt in the shootout, they will start ninth. If two drivers don't complete an attempt in the shootout due to a crash or mechanical failure, then they will start eighth and ninth, respectively, based on their best run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Q: What happens if a driver crashes in the Fast Nine, and that car is destroyed? If that driver is forced to a backup car for the rest of the event, will he or she start ninth or 33rd?

A: All drivers who qualify for the Fast Nine shootout are guaranteed a starting spot in the top nine on Race Day, even if they must change cars.

Q: What happens if a driver who qualifies in the top 24 on Pole Day is forced to a backup car for the race?

A: That driver maintains the starting spot for which he or she qualified on Pole Day.

Q: What happens if Pole Day is rained out?

A: One day of qualifying would take place from noon-6 p.m. Sunday, May 23, with all 33 positions up for grabs. Each car would get the traditional three attempts that day. The pole shootout for the Fast Nine would not take place.

Q: What happens if Bump Day is rained out?

A: Qualifying would resume on the next available day for positions 25-33. There would be one attempt per car, which has been the procedure for a Bump Day rainout.

Register and watch Takuma Sato qualifying live on www.indycar.com

Saturday 6am – 1pm UK time

Sunday 7am – 1pm UK time